Concealed ski attachment employing reciprocating locking members



Oct. 30, 1962 H. P. GLASS 3,061,325

CONCEALED SKI ATTACHMENT EMPLOYING RECIPROCA'I'ING LOCKING MEMBERS Filed May 8, 1961 FIG.4. I

INV EN TOR. HENRY P- GLASS United States Patent Ofifice 3,061,325 Patented Oct. 30, 1962 3,061,325 CONCEALED SKI ATTACHMENT EMPLOYING RECIPROCATING LOCKING MEMBERS Henry P. Glass, 666 Lake Shore Drive, Chicago 11, Ill. Filed May 8, 1961, Ser. No. 108,489 4 Claims. (Cl. 280-1135) This invention relates to skiing equipment and more particularly to an attachment for securing a ski boot to a ski.

Although attachments for fastening ski boots to skis have been known, difliculty still exists in fastening and unfastening the devices, particularly during use on slopes. Many known bindings or attachments have cumbersome fixtures in front and back of the boot with straps or cables along the skis on both sides of the boot to hold the latter to the ski. By eliminating these attachment members from around the boot and confining the entire fastening mechanism underneath the boot, the friction of the skier gliding through the snow is greatly reduced and skiing becomes smoother and swifter. Most prior art structures require strenuous efforts to fasten the binding means to the ski. If the attachment means of the prior art becomes unfastened, it is difiicult to refasten from a standing position, particularly on a slope.

In accordance with the invention claimed a new and improved attachment means is provided, which is concealed and housed between the bottom of the boot and the ski so as to protect the moving parts from the companion ski and boot and the brush. The attachment means comprises a member fastened to the bottom of the boot defining a slot extending longitudinally of the boot. The periphery of the slot is provided with two indentations. Guiding means are fastened to the ski at the place where the boot is to be attached and are arranged to be positioned within the slot when the boot is placed on the ski. Means are slidably mounted on the ski for cooperating with the guiding means and are biased into the indentations for locking the boot to the ski. Retracting means are connected to the slidably mounted locking means for retracting and withdrawing the locking means out of the indentations against the action of the biasing means. This retracting means is set forth as extending laterally out of the slot to a place adjacent to an edge of the ski so as to be easily accessible for manipulation.

It is, therefore, one object of this invention to provide a new and improved attachment for securing a ski boot to a ski.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved attachment for securing a ski boot to a ski in which the attachment means including the interlocking means are concealed when in use.

A further object of this invention is to provide a new and improved attachment means for securing a ski boot to a ski in which the heel .and toe are interlocked with the ski so that normally neither toe nor heel can be lifted away from the ski during ski maneuvers, but either the heel or toe may be quickly disengaged in case of a fall.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a new and improved attachment for securing the heel and toe of a ski boot to .a ski in which the heel and toe interlocking means are individually operable structures and also may be simultaneously actuated.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a new and improved aesthetic appearing attachment for securing a ski boot to a ski which is simple and rugged in construction, efiicient and reliable in operation, and may be actuated to interlock with a ski from a standing position by merely stepping on the ski.

Objects and advantages other than those above set forth will be apparent from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the bottom and side of the ski boot and embodying the first of two parts of the novel attachment;

FIG. :2 is a partial perspective view of the ski illus' trating the second of two parts of the novel attachment mounted on the ski;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view partly in cross-section of the ski boot mounted on the ski with the attachment means in interlocking position; and

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 3 taken along the lines 44.

Referring more particularly to the drawing by characters of reference, FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional type of ski boot 5 comprising an upper portion 6 and .a relatively stiff bottom sole portion 7. The boot is attached to a ski 8, only a portion of which is shown in FIG. 2, by clamping or attachment means 10, part of which is shown on the sole of boot 5 in FIG. 1 and the other part of which is shown in FIG. 2 mounted on ski 8. The attachment means It? secures both the toe and heel to the ski so that the skiers feet are anchored to the ski permitting him to lean forward to shift his center of gravity ahead of his feet without losing his balance.

The attachment means 1% is concealed almost completely between the bottom of the shoe or boot and the top of the ski to which the boot is to be attached, so that there will be no parts protruding so as to be caught on the companion ski and boot or terrain obstructions. The attachment means comprises .a flat plate-like member 12 fastened to the sole of boot 5 and defining a slot 13 extending longitudinally of boot 5. The outer periphery of member 12 may follow the outline of sole portion 7 or may be of a different configuration which would not interfere with the normal function of the boot. The periphery of slot 13 defines an indentation 14 near the tip of the toe and an indentation 15 near the heel of boot 5. A hollow elongated guiding means 16 is fastened to ski 8 at the place where boot 5 is to be attached and is of such size and configuration as to be positionable within the outline of slot 13 when boot 5 is placed on ski 8. The guiding means 16 comprises two spaced guiding members 17 and 18 which are interconnected by a cylindrical housing 19. Each of the guiding members 17 and 18 forms a housing for reciprocally actuable bolt members 26 and 21, respectively. Pin members 22 and 23 are attached respectively to bolt members 20 and 21 and are arranged to protrude into slots 24 and 25 in guiding members 17 and 13. Slots 24 and 25 limit the reciprocal movement of bolt members 2% and 21 in the usual manner.

Bolt members 2 and 21 may be of any suitable geometrical configuration. Dovetailing portions formed by beveled and inclined edges are used to afford the interlocking between the bolt members and the indentations as illustrated herein for maximum safety, and further this construction is preferred since it affords the least difiiculties with clogging due to accumulation of ice and snow, and the wedge shape of the clamping elements on the ski serves when they are pushed into the indentations 14 and 15 on the boot to eject the ice and snow and thereby clean themselves as they are applied.

Bolt members 20 and 21 are slotted or grooved at their inner or adjacent ends to form seats 20' and 21' for common ends of cylindrical coil springs 26 and 27. The other ends of springs 26 and 27 which are arranged within cylindrical housing 19 are seated against sleeves 28 and 29, respectively. Sleeves 28 and 29 are arranged in spaced threaded engagement with the hollow interior of housing 19 near its center. Housing 19 is provided with a pair of windows or grooves 30 and 31 extending through its outer walls over the areas thereof housing sleeves 2S and 29 so that sleeves 28 and 29 may be moved longitudinally of housing 19 by inserting a suitable tool in apertures or indentations 32 and 33 in sleeves 2S and 29 for rotation thereof. Movement of sleeves 28 and 29 toward their respective ends of housing 19 increases the tension on springs 26 and 27 and in turn bolt members 20 and 21, and movement of these sleeves toward the center of housing 19 decreases the tension. As obvious from the drawing, the biasing effect of springs 26 and 27 may be individually varied and can be calibrated for persons of various weights.

In order to overcome the effects of the biasing springs 26 and 27 and retract the bolt means 20 and 21 out of indentations 14 and 15, flexible cords 35 and 36 are attached to the bolt means and extend therefrom through housing 19 and laterally out of an aperture 37 in its wall at a point between its ends. Cords 35 and 36 terminate adjacent each other in a suitable loop 38 which is arranged to extend out of slot 13 through an opening 39 extending laterally of the longitudinal axis of slot 13. Loop or handle 38 is arranged to extend through opening 39 to a point adjacent the edge of ski 8 so as to be easily accessible for manipulation. Although two cords 35 and 36 are shown, one or more cords may be employed. The cord means upon actuation simultaneously retracts the bolt members or locking means out of the indentations 14 and 15 toward the center of the guiding means 16 against the action of the biasing means to unlock the boot from the ski.

As noted from the drawing, the new and improved attachment means can be assembled and snapped into interlocking position from a standing position by stepping on the ski so that the guiding means slips into slot 13 in the plate-like member 12. This is readily accomplished by causing the bolt member to protrude into the toe indentation 14, and then the foot of the skier in boot 5 is pulled back toward the rear of the ski to compress spring 26 in the toe end of the guiding means. This action is usually undertaken while the other foot or ski of the skier holds the first ski stationary, thereby preventing it from sliding backward. As the heel of the boot is brought down toward the bolt member 21 of guiding means 16, the walls of indentation 15 bear against member 21, and the weight of the skier causes the bolt member 21 to snap into indentation 15 thus interlocking the boot and ski.

The boot may also be readily attached to the ski by placing the boot over the ski at the usual place of attachment and then pulling on the cord members and 36 so as to retract the bolt members 29 and 21 into the guiding members 17 and 18 and causing the guiding means 16 to fit into slot 13. Release of the cord members causes the bolt members to spring into indentations 14 and 15 thereby locking the boot to the ski.

To release the binding or attachment means to separate the boot from the ski, the skier simply pulls on the cord members 35 and 36 by means of handle 38. This can be accomplished when standing by inserting the tip of the ski pole into the loop formed by cord members 35 and 36 and handle 38, swinging the handle of the ski pole toward and in front of the skier using the outside of the boot as a fulcrum. The pole tip will then pull the cord members outward, compressing both springs 26 and 27, retracting bolt members 20 and 21 from indentations 14 and 15 enabling the skier to easily step off of the ski and its portion of the attachment means.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 of the drawing, plate-like member 12 and guiding means 16 may be fastened to the boot and ski by screws or any other suitable fastening means. The tapered indentations 14 and 15 may be outlined in metal or other hard material which will keep them from becoming oversized with use. Although the guiding means 16 has been defined as comprising a plurality of parts, the guiding members 17 and 1S and the housing 19 may be formed of one structural member.

In view of the tapered edges of the indentations 14 and 15 and the cooperating tapered edges of bolt members 20 and 21, the claimed attachment means is safer than most known bindings. The inclined planes held against each other under controlled and adjustable spring tension form a structure which can be readily separated during a fall. In case of a forward fall, the heel bolt member 21 is disengaged from the indentation 15. In case of a backward fall, the toe bolt member 20 will come out of its indentation 14. In case of a side twist in either direction, either the toe or heel bolt members or both will release the boot from the ski, thereby avoiding the transmission of torque forces to the bone structure of the foot and leg and avoiding dangerous joint dislocations and spinal fractures. Adequate spring tension can be easily calibrated on or near the openings or windows 30 and 31 to correspond to the body weight of the skier.

By use of the new and improved attachment means the distance between the sole of the foot and the bottom of the ski is increased. This distance constitutes the leverage by which the skier applies pressure to dig into the uphill edges he is traversing. Thus, edge control is improved and side slippage minimized.

A further advantage of the claimed attachment means, aside from its clean and aesthetic appearance for a style conscious ski public, is the fact that the sole of the ski boot when in use or in summer storage is at all times held straight and prevented from warping and curling by the rigid understructure of light metal or hard rubber which is suitably fastened to and becomes part of the sole, thereby eliminating boot trees.

The parts of the attachment means may be formed of any suitable material, such as rust resistant metal or plastics. The principal advantages of the attachment means are the dependability of the structure in holding the boots firmly clamped to the skis, the ease of application without modifying the boots or skis in any permanent manner, the ease with which they can be applied and removed during skiing, the fact that they are self cleaning of ice and snow if such should get into the cooperating parts, and the fact that the claimed structure can be cheaply manufactured when compared to other similar structures.

The present embodiment of the invention provides spring loaded adjustable male members fastened to the ski with corresponding female receptacles either attached to or as a part of the boot sole. It is, of course, obvious that these means could be reversed.

Although but one embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the appended claims.

I claim: '1

1. A device for securing a ski boot to a ski comprising a member fastened to the bottom of said boot and defining a slot extending longitudinally of said boot, the periphery of said slot defining an indentation near the tip of the toe and an indentation near the heel of said boot, a hollow elongated guiding means fastened to said ski at the place where said boot is to be attached and arranged to be positioned within said slot when said boot is placed thereon, means reciprocally mounted within opposite ends of said guiding means for movement into said indentations for locking said boot to said ski, a pair of springs mounted within said guiding means, one for biasing each of said locking means out of opposite ends of said guiding means, means within said guiding means for individually varying the biasing eifect of said springs, and flexible cord means attached to each of said locking means, said cord means extending from said locking means through said guiding means and laterally out of said guiding means at a point between its ends and said slot to an edge of said ski so as to be easily accessible for manipulation, said cord means upon actuation simultaneously retracting said locking means out of said indentations toward the center of said guiding means against the action of said biasing means to unlock said boot from said ski.

2. A device for securing a ski boot to a ski comprising a member fastened to the bottom of said boot and defining a slot extending longitudinally of said boot, the periphery of said slot defining an indentation near the tip of the toe and an indentation near the heel of said boot, a hollow elongated guiding means fastened to said ski at the place where said boot is to be attached and arranged to be positioned Within said slot when said boot is placed thereon, means reciprocally mounted within opposite ends of said guiding means for movement into said indentations for locking said boot to said ski, a pair of springs mounted within said guiding means, one for biasing each of said locking means out of opposite ends of said guiding means, means within said guiding means for individually varying the biasing effect of said springs, and flexible cord means attached to each of said locking means, said cord means extending from said locking means through said guiding means and laterally out of said guiding means at a point between its ends and said slot to an edge of said ski so as to be easily accessible for manipulation, said cord means upon actuation retracting said locking means out of said indentations toward the center of said guiding means against the action of said biasing means to unlock said boot from said ski.

3. A device for securing a ski boot to a ski comprising a member fastened to the bottom of said boot and defining a slot extending longitudinally of said boot, the periphery of said slot defining an indentation near the tip of the toe and an indentation near the heel of said boot, a hollow elongated guiding means fastened to said ski at the place where said boot is to be attached and arranged to be positioned within said slot when said boot is placed thereon, means reciprocally mounted within opposite ends of said guiding means for movement into said indentations for locking said boot to said ski, -a pair of springs mounted within said guiding means, one for biasing each of said locking means out of opposite ends of said guiding means, means within said guiding means for individually varying the biasing efiect of said springs, and retracting means attached to each of said locking means, said retracting means extending from said locking means through said guiding means and laterally out of said guiding means at a point between its ends and said slot to an edge of said ski so as to be easily accessible for manipulation, said retracting means upon actuation retracting said locking means out of said indentations toward the center of said guiding means against the action of said biasing means to unlock said boot from said ski.

4. A device for securing a ski boot to a ski comprising a member fastened to the bottom of said boot and defining a slot extending longitudinally of said boot, the periphery of said slot defining an indentation near the tip of the toe and an indentation near the heel of said boot, a hollow elongated guiding means fastened to said ski at the place Where said boot is to be attached and arranged to be positioned within said slot when said boot is placed thereon, means reciprocally mounted within opposite ends of said guiding means for movement into said indentations for locking said boot to said ski, a pair of springs mounted within said guiding means, one for biasing each of said locking means out of opposite ends of said guiding means, and retracting means attached to each of said locking means, said retracting means extending from said locking means through said guiding means and laterally out of said guiding means at a point between its ends and said slot to an edge of said ski so as to be easily accessible for manipulation, said retracting means upon actuation retracting said locking means out of said indentations toward the center of said guiding means against the action of said biasing means to unlock said boot from said ski.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,247,237 Johnson June 24, 1941 2,610,067 Harby Sept. 9, 1952 2,693,967 Jones Nov. 9, 1954 2,717,784 Glenn Sept. 13, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 136,031 Austria Dec. 27, 1933 169,906 Austria Dec. 27, 1951 285,798 Italy May 22, 1931 126,223 Switzerland June 1, 1928 

